Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi is a renowned vocalist of India. He was born on February 4, 1922. He is a descendant of the Kirana Gharana of Hindustani classical music tradition. In 1936, Sawai Gandharva started teaching him Hindustani classical music till 1940. He first performed live at the age of 19 and when he was 20, his debut album was released.

In the memory of his guru, Bhimsen started an annual classical musical festival called the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. This festival is held in Pune every year in the month of December. The awards received by Bhimsen includes Padma Vibhushan (1999), Padma Bhushan (1985), Padma Shree (1972), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1976), First platinum disc (1986) and the Maharashtra Bhushan award by Govt. of Maharashtra.